Successful job hunt requires some strategy

SAN FRANCISCO — Economists call it the labor market, but for job hunters competing with almost 15 million unemployed workers, it probably feels more like a jungle.

And many economists expect the current unemployment rate to get worse before it gets better, possibly topping 10 percent.

In times like these, bad news isn’t hard to find. But jobs are — and job seekers are all too aware of it. That alone can have negative ramifications, some experts say.

“Job hunters, because they are so fearful and full of anxiety, the way they are approaching job hunting is more off base than ever,” said Andrea Kay, a career consultant and author of “Work’s a Bitch and Then You Make It Work.”

When asked about the biggest mistakes job seekers make, the three most-cited problems were “too desperate/willing to take anything,” “poor interview preparation” and “weak résumés,” according to a survey of 500 executive recruiters conducted for TheLadders.com, a career site for executives.

In this market it’s not surprising people are “willing to take anything.” Still, experts say it’s important to spend time digging up information on jobs that are suited to you, rather than applying to any position.

“It’s not about how many jobs you apply to; it’s applying to the right one,” said Alex Douzet, president and co-founder of TheLadders.com. “The skill and preparation is in narrowing down the right job for you.”

The right strategy is not complicated, Kay said. “A good job hunter has two jobs: They should be discovering the problems that employers have, ... and then they should be presenting themselves as the solution.”

Others agreed that in job hunting, strategy is all-important. “Even during good times, there are still people competing for virtually every job listing,” said Richard Bolles, author of “The Job-Hunter’s Survival Guide” and “What Color Is Parachute?”

“During hard times, you have to have better job-hunting skills to compete,” he said.

Developing a strategy can help you focus your search and, ideally, help you overcome that sense of desperation. Also, consider other mistakes to avoid when job-hunting:

DON’T RELY ON ADS AND JOB SITESJobs often are not advertised, and the only way to find them is by networking. “Many employers prefer not to advertise on the Internet. They prefer to fill vacancies in more personal ways,” Bolles said.

That means finding and contacting companies that can use your skills, Kay said. “Find a live human being there that you can connect to so you’re not just another resume coming in the door.”

Contact that person via e-mail or telephone, and say, for instance, “I understand you’re in the process of rolling out a new product. I would like to talk to you about how I can support you in this,” Kay said. Also send your résumé and a letter “packed with reasons for them to want to talk to you.”

At small to midsize firms, try simply walking in the door, résumé in hand — but keep in mind that not all employers appreciate this. “I’m a fan of physically going to the company,” said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam, a temporary staffing agency for administrative professionals and unit of Robert Half International.

DON’T GO IN UNPREPAREDIf the company recently made an acquisition or unveiled a new product, you need to know and be able to speak intelligently about the company’s needs and culture. “Companies loved to be loved, just as much as individuals,” Bolles said.

NETWORK; DON’T ASK FOR WORKNetworking is about developing relationships, Kay said. Contact people you know to ask for advice; don’t ask for work. Tap their expertise about their industry and company, and what advice they have for you.

Also, don’t ask chance acquaintances for a reference, but tap them for information on their firm’s hiring process, its culture and the name of the person doing the hiring.

TREAT SUPPORT STAFF WELLSixty-one percent of executives said they considered their assistant’s opinion important when evaluating job candidates, according to an OfficeTeam survey.

“Keep in mind that if you’re not as nice to the front desk person as you could be, that information always gets back,” Hosking said.